Moving day was a chaotic experiment in human endurance. Jamie’s new studio apartment was currently full of bags, cardboard, and half-mounted furniture.

"Okay, team!" Jamie announced, standing in the center of the room like a general surveying a battlefield made of packing tape. "Let’s do this!"

"My contribution is moral support and quality control," Yani said from his perch on a large box, his eyes glued to his handheld console. "I'll let you know if you're putting things in stupid places."

Nico sighed, staring at the pile of wooden planks that was allegedly supposed to become a daybed. He held the instruction manual, which seemed to be written in a dialect of ancient hieroglyphs he didn’t speak. "Jamie, are you sure we have all the screws? Because this diagram implies the existence of a bracket that is definitely not here."

"It's fine! We improvise!" Jamie shouted from the kitchen, where Romy was unpacking dishes with terrifying efficiency.

For the next hour, the apartment echoed with the sounds of struggle. Nico and Jamie wrestled the bed frame, a battle that involved a lot of swearing and at least one pinched finger. Romy transformed the kitchen area from a disaster zone into a functioning space in twenty minutes flat. Yani occasionally looked up to point a vague finger and say, "That looks crooked," before returning to his game.

During a brief lull, Yani looked up from his console. "By the way, Jamie. Luke asked if he could come to the party tonight. That cool with everyone?"

Jamie paused, a screwdriver in hand. He glanced over at Nico, who was sorting through boxes. Their eyes met for a moment, a silent question passing between them. Nico gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

"Yeah, sure," Jamie said, turning back to Yani. "The more the merrier."

Romy opened a box labeled FRAGILE and pulled out a bright pink, dusty plastic flamingo. They held it up by its spindly legs.

"Jamie," Romy said with a flat tone. "Why?"

Jamie gasped and snatched the bird from Romy’s grip. "That’s Fernando! He’s a survivor. He’s seen things. Show some respect." He placed the plastic bird proudly on the newly assembled (and only slightly wobbly) coffee table.

A knock at the door saved everyone from having to bond further with the flamingo. Ben stood in the hallway, holding a large, leafy potted plant that looked far too pretty to survive in Jamie’s care.

"Looks like I came at the right time," Ben said, taking in the scene: Jamie sweating, Nico looking defeated by an Allen key, and Yani completely disengaged. "Or the wrong time. I brought a housewarming plant."

"Look at that," Yani commented barely looking up. "He brings a symbol of life and growth. Your plastic bird will love it."

They ended up sitting on the floor, eating pizza from the cardboard. It was messy, loud, and chaotic, but as Nico saw Romy laughing with their mouth full, Yani wiping a smudge of sauce off his cheek, Ben listening intently to one of Jamie’s stories... a quiet sense of belonging settled. Jamie looked happy. He looked home.

***

By evening, the apartment had transformed. The boxes were shoved into the closet (a problem for Future Jamie), music was thumping from a portable speaker, and the space was filled with people. It was an official housewarming party now.

"Impressive turnout," Yani remarked, observing the crowd while leaning against the wall. "I didn't realize we were inviting your entire Scratchr chat history."

"Absolutely not!" Jamie said, though he was smiling as he refilled the snack bowl. "These are all friends. Respectable, platonic friends. I am not looking for a man right now."

"I mean," Romy interjected. "That guy in the short shorts is literally winking at you."

"He has a twitch!" Jamie insisted, as he hurried away to check on the playlist.

Luke had also joined the party and stood near the drinks table, swirling a plastic cup. He was watching the room with a thoughtful expression. Yani, having finally abandoned his game, sidled up to him.

"You look like you're having a profound thought," Yani observed. "That's off-brand for you."

Luke laughed. "Nah, just... this is cool. Jamie's got his shit together. Makes a guy think."

Yani raised an eyebrow, his cynicism softening a fraction. "About what? The impermanence of youth? The fleeting nature of joy?"

"About teaching again," Luke said, a slight flush in his cheeks. "Go-go dancing pays decently, but I was thinking it'd be nice to teach a real class on the side. Choreography, the whole deal."

Yani paused, his cup halfway to his mouth. He looked at Luke with surprise and genuine interest. "You teach?"

"Used to," Luke said, his gaze drifting back to the party. "I'm good at it. I actually miss it a lot."

Across the room, Nico caught Luke's eye. There was a brief moment where the old, frantic rhythm of his heart might have kicked in. Instead, Nico offered a small, polite nod. Luke returned it before turning back to Yani.

Nico exhaled slowly, the tension draining from his shoulders, and leaned back. Ben squeezed his side gently.

"Need some air?" he asked softly, close to Nico's ear.

Nico nodded. "Please."

They stepped out onto the small balcony. The cool night air was a sharp relief from the heat of the crowded apartment. The city lights of Verel twinkled below them, and the noise of the party was muffled by the glass door, turning the balcony into a small, private bubble.

Nico leaned against the railing, looking down at the street. "Thanks for coming tonight. And for helping with the furniture and all."

"I wouldn't have missed it. He seems truly happy," Ben replied as he stepped a little closer. He reached up, his fingers gently massaging Nico's head between his curly hair.

"You look beautiful tonight," Ben said.

Heat rose in Nico's cheeks. "You keep saying that."

"Because it's true," Ben said. His voice dropped lower, intimate and serious. "The first day you came to the shelter... I tried to play it cool. But I felt it immediately."

Nico’s breath hitched. "Yeah?"

"Talking to you was easy," Ben continued, his thumb tracing the line of Nico's cheekbone. "I didn’t know if you’d come back, but I asked because I wanted to see you again."

"I wasn’t planning to," Nico admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "But then I kept thinking about it. I went in looking for calm, hanging with cats. I kept coming back because of you. And Prunya." He looked up, meeting Ben’s brown eyes. "I like who I am around you. I like us."

Ben smiled. "I want to kiss you again."

"I want that too," Nico whispered.

Ben leaned in, but he stopped just short of touching, his breath close to Nico's lips. "Maybe we should continue this somewhere more private."

"My place isn't far from here," Nico said, the words coming out fast.

Ben pulled back just enough to look at him, a satisfied smirk on his bearded face. "I was hoping you'd say that."

They slipped back inside just long enough to find Jamie, who a moment ago was leading a conga line.

"We're gonna head out," Nico shouted over the music.

Jamie stopped mid-shimmy, looking from Nico to Ben. He took in the glowing faces, the way Ben was practically shielding Nico from the crowd, the undeniable current running between them. A knowing, wicked grin spread across his face.

"Good talk on the balcony?" Jamie teased.

"Very good talk," Nico said, unable to stop beaming.

"Get out of here," Jamie said, shooing them toward the door. "Be safe. But thank you for today. This means everything to me."

"See you, Jamie. I'm proud of you," Nico said while hugging him.

Nico and Ben walked out of the building and onto the street. The night was quiet now, the party noise fading behind them. They walked close, their hands brushing with every step until Ben finally reached out and interlaced their fingers. Nico squeezed Ben’s hand and a thrill shot up his arm.